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You already answered him the first time, but there he goes again, “Mommy, are we there yet?” Sound familiar? Families everywhere have trouble making a long journey in a car with kids. Taking two aspirins with water is not going to cure this problem, but maybe a little preplanning might. Traveling with kids is no picnic that’s for sure, but here are a few ideas that might make that trip a bit easier.

How you plan your trip depends on the ages of your kids. Kids of all ages love frequent breaks. Plan on stopping for gas and the bathroom every two hours. Let your kids get out, play ball or a quick game of tag, or let your older kids shop at the convenience store. These breaks don’t have to be long.

Try rotating seats. It really works. No one likes to get stuck in the back seat next to the same person mile after mile. When you take your next break have everyone rotate seats; be sure to let them sit up in front if they are old enough. Children in car seats can stay in one place.

Have plenty of snacks on hand, but don’t hand them out all at once. Sneak little toys, games or prizes in the car and hand them out when you think your kids are starting to go stir crazy. Playing lots of car games and singing is also a great way to instill family closeness.

One last note about DVD’s and video games. These can be life savers on a trip, but they can also be huge detractors. You don’t want your children missing important sights along the way. Come up with rules on their usage.

Preplanning will make your next car trip a wonderful adventure.